Grace O

February 17, 2025

Published by Grace O

Lunar New Year 2025: A Guide to the Year of the Snake

The Lunar New Year begins on January 29, 2025, marking the Year of the Wood Snake in the Chinese zodiac. The Snake is known for wisdom, transformation, and intuition—making this a year to embrace new beginnings and focus on health, balance, and nourishment. The Lunar New Year has always been a special holiday for me. Growing up in Southeast Asia, I was immersed in the traditions passed down from my family—my father was three-quarters Chinese, and my mother was half Chinese. Our celebrations were filled with symbolic customs, especially through food. At FoodTrients®, we love celebrating the Lunar New Year with […]

February 17, 2025

Published by Grace O

How Do Antioxidants Work in the Body?

Your mother was right when she insisted you eat all your vegetables at dinnertime before moving on to dessert. Virtually every fruit and vegetable contains antioxidants. Fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts, and beans are so good for our bodies because they contain a host of antioxidants that can be broken down into multiple categories. I thought it would be helpful to highlight a few of those subcategories here. Antioxidants play a crucial role in the body by neutralizing harmful molecules called free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules that can damage cells, contributing to aging and increasing the risk of chronic […]

February 7, 2025

Published by Grace O

12 Great Foods To Improve Your Love Life

Valentine’s Day lets us turn our thoughts to adding a little more love and romance to our lives. Can certain foods boost romantic relationships and enhance sexual desire? According to St. Thomas Aquinas, aphrodisiac foods had to produce good nutrition and a “vital spirit.” In other words, the nutrients that contribute to overall well-being will also help to ensure a healthy love life. Chocolate is typically at the top of my list for Valentine’s Day, particularly dark chocolate. It truly is one of the best superfoods for lovers. Dark chocolate can help relieve stress, sharpen our minds, improve blood flow […]

January 14, 2025

Published by Grace O

Put These Good-for-You Grains on Your List

Cultivating grains is what changed our Neolithic ancestors from hunter-gatherers to an agrarian society about 10,000 years ago. In the grass family of plants, grains are a part of the human diet all over the world, providing complex carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals. I’ve put together a list of grains, some of which you may have heard of and some that may be completely new to you. Among them are ancient grains that people are rediscovering and incorporating into meals in creative and tasty ways. Characteristically, these grains are unrefined, have a firmer texture and more flavor than highly processed […]

January 12, 2025

Published by Grace O

Oregon Vegan Mushroom Soup: Immune-Boosting

This recipe is from my latest cookbook, Anti-Aging Dishes from Around the World. Oregon is a fabulous place to forage for mushrooms. There, varieties such as chanterelles, hedgehog, matsutake, lobster, morel, black truffle, white truffle, and milky cap grow under Douglas fir, pine, oak, western hemlock, Sitka spruce, aspen, willow, and birch trees. If you can get your hands on any of these exotic mushrooms, especially morels and/or chanterelles, use them in this soup. Vegetable broth and the secret ingredient rolled oats—not steel-cut or instant—blend together to create vegan creaminess in this light, healthy soup that’s low in calories and fat, […]

January 12, 2025

Published by Grace O

Age Better with These Recipes for Beauty

You don’t need to resemble a Hollywood star to embody beauty. True beauty comes in many forms and shines from within. We’ve all met people whose vibrant health, radiant skin, and energetic presence make them undeniably attractive—proving that beauty goes far beyond conventional standards or celebrity ideals. The truth is, natural beauty is achievable for everyone. A healthy, balanced diet can help anybody enhance their natural beauty while improving overall health. According to Ginger Hultin, FoodTrients’ nutritionist and dietitian, nourishing your body with the right foods can support long-term beauty in several key ways: Skin elasticity and color ● Hair […]

January 12, 2025

Published by Grace O

FoodTrients Inspires a Fresh Take on Fall Recipes for Health and Longevity

As fall settles in, we crave recipes that warm us from the inside out. Grace O, the founder and visionary behind FoodTrients®—a resource celebrating nutrient-rich foods that combat aging and boost longevity—believes it’s the perfect time to add seasonal fruits, vegetables, and soups to our cooking lineup. Many of the vegetables Grace highlights are available year-round, thanks to partnerships with growers in Mexico and the Southern Hemisphere. But during fall, local harvests are at their peak, making it the ideal moment to explore vibrant, healthful additions to your fall recipe repertoire. FoodTrients® is a wellness philosophy and resource focused on […]

December 26, 2024

Published by Grace O

How Sweet It Is! Delightful Holiday Desserts

The holidays always call for plenty of desserts. Whether I’m throwing a party, giving gifts of food, or reliving holidays past through sweet treats, desserts are integral to my life this month. I’ll share a few of my favorite recipes with you. Brazil Nut Tarts Every year I host a Christmas caroling party at my home. Choirs from churches all over the area stop by to sing in my living room. Sometimes a Filipino celebrity or two will perform. My guests just love it. I like to put out a dinner buffet so that the choirs have something to eat […]

December 26, 2024

Published by Grace O

Devilishly Delish Vegan Desserts Are Here

There are vegetarians—those who avoid meat, chicken, fish, and other animal flesh—and vegans, who take it a step further by avoiding all animal-derived products, including dairy, eggs, and often honey. Choosing a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle is a personal decision that requires careful consideration, discipline, and a commitment to reading labels and rethinking traditional recipes. According to estimates by advocacy organizations like PETA, adopting a vegan diet can significantly reduce the number of animals consumed annually. While exact numbers may vary, the impact is worth considering for those who prioritize animal welfare. But being vegan doesn’t have to be an […]